Live | The Dead Daisies (+ Beasto Blanco + Mike Tramp-Essigfabrik-Cologne [Ger]

5 November 2024

The Dead Daisies are once again on the road in Europe, promoting their latest record ‘Light ‘Em Up’. During preparations for this tour, news broke that guitarist Doug Aldrich had been diagnosed with throat cancer, needed surgery and is now recovering. Former Whitesnake colleague Reb Beach was therefore hired as Doug’s replacement for this tour.

Before we would see the results of this collaboration, however, the Daisies had brought no less than two warm-ups.

SUPPORT ACT 1 – MIKE TRAMP

First, former White Lion/Freak Of Nature singer Mike Tramp was allowed to warm up the audience. This man has already filled two albums with old White Lion classics, which he has put in a new appropriate jacket. And I can report that a Part III of this series of releases is already hard at work. For this support on the tour, he is only on the road with guitarist exceptional Markus Nand. The drums and bass come off the tape for the occasion.

So was this some kind of karaoke act? Well far from it. I found this performance very entertaining. Markus and Mike both on guitar and the way these White Lion classics anno 2024 are played I just think is cool. Mike’s high notes have largely made way for a warm voice and for somewhat more vocal layers Markus sings the higher parts here and there. Next year the gentlemen will tour Europe again and then with a complete band. In any case, this was an excellent teaser of what awaits us then. Because songs like ,,Little Fighter”, ,,Broken Heart”, or ,,When The Children Cry” remain world-class songs and Markus plays the solos of these songs with all his respect to the original Vito Bratta solos. Beautiful performance.

SUPPORT ACT 2 – BEASTO BLANCO

After a short break, the awesomeness of Beasto Blanco could begin. This band has Alice Cooper’s bassist in the band with Chuck Garric, but Alice’s daughter, singer Calico Cooper, is also part of Beasto Blanco. Chuck, by the way, shares lead vocals with Calico in this band and plays rhythm guitar. The show is peppered with theatrical elements; let’s just say the apple hasn’t fallen far from the Cooper tree. But in addition, Calico sings very creditably.

The songs are dirty, sleazy and tight. Is it earth-shattering? Well no, not that, rather somewhat confusing because the level of the songs does go up and down quite a bit and some people around me thought they were watching a post apocalyptic band. A decent Mad Max vibe Beasto Blanco did have.

Then again, songs like ,,Freak”, ,,Grind”, ,,Machine Girl” fit the band’s vibe perfectly. I found the band at times top notch and quite entertaining. At least there was plenty to see and hear and thankfully it was not a simple Alice Cooper rip off act.

THE HEADLINER – THE DEAD DAISIES

Headliner The Dead Daisies kicked off with two insane headbangers of songs ,,Light ‘Em Up” and ,,Rise Up”. Where the sound with the supports sometimes sounded somewhat unbalanced, with the Daisies it was immediately rock solid!!!

Unfortunately, I could not say the same about the lighting and besides that, I think someone fell asleep on the remote control of the smoke machine. It looked like the fog that was developing outside the Essigfabrik had also reached the stage. Quite a shame, because at times you could only see shadows of the gentlemen on stage.

Fortunately, though, the band‘s playing and joy of playing was as usual. John Corabi, meanwhile, resumed his place as lead vocalist convincingly. Guitarist and creator of the whole project David Lowy was clearly in the mood for a Cologne party. Bassist Michael Devin, who was also on the previous tour has definitely found his place within the band as well, laying down toe mud-fat base layer. Drummer Tommy Clufetos cannot be described otherwise as an absolute beast behind his drumkit. For once I assume the man needs new cymbals for every gig. My god how hard that man hits. Sometimes the sound of his drum kit directly from the stage topped the hall sound. Madness.

And then, of course, we have Reb Beach, who has the “thankless” task of taking Doug Aldrich’s place. Mr. Beach is an excellent guitar slinger, but he does have a different groove than Aldrich. However, considering the fact that the man entered the tour with only 1 rehearsal and in Cologne played only the 4th show ever with the band, you can’t find anything wrong with that. Not many guitarists can pull that off, but he did.

,,Make Some Noise”, ,,Dead And Gone”, ,,Unspoken” all pop like mad. The drum solo was perhaps a bit over the top and other than allowing the rest of the band to take a breather, not really an addition to the evening. As good as Tommy is, the drum solo was not really interesting. Very loud though!

The now familiar band intros, with cover song pieces was of course there again, but it is a fact that I’d rather hear the whole band just play some more The Dead Daisies songs. After all, that’s what they excel at.

,,Mexico” and ,,Midnight Moses” close out tonight’s set, but of course some encores are thrown into the room in the form of ,,Long Way To Go” and Beatles classic ,,Helter Skelter”.

This evening at the Essigfabrik was again top-notch and everyone who was there was able to enjoy a varied program. On this Tuesday the hall was unfortunately not sold out, but it was well filled. Everyone therefore had a nice spot to enjoy these bands, with headliner The Dead Daisies as the undisputed winner.

SETLIST THE DEAD DAISIES

Light ‘Em Up
Rise Up
Dead And Gone
Make Some Noise
I Wanna Be Your Bitch
Unspoken
Bustle & Flow [Drum solo]
Lock N Load
I’m Gonna Ride
Born To Fly
Take A Long Line
Band Intro’s
I’m Ready
Fortunate Son
Mexico
Midnight Moses

Encore:
Long Way To Go
Helter Skelter

All photos by Raymond Helebrand